Next month, Syracuse football returns. Let that sink in. On August 31, Dino Babers and company will embark on twelve-game schedule that features a trip to the bronx, a matchup with a national championship favorite and a rematch with a team that made them look silly in the Carrier Dome last November. With that being said, which game is the most important? Hint: it’s not one of the matchups I just alluded too.
When Florida State rolls into the Carrier Dome for a week-three showdown with Syracuse, the Orange better be ready to go. Not only is it SU’s first nationally televised game, but it’s the squad’s first ACC game of the season. Those two factors alone, however, aren’t nearly enough to make this the pivotal game on Syracuse’s schedule.
What’s the most IMPORTANT game on SU’s 2018 Football schedule?
— Orange Fizz (@OrangeFizz) June 27, 2018
This game will set the tempo for the season. I’ll admit, there are plenty of other crucial games, including the opener against Western Michigan. Losing that game would be tough. Not to mention, the Orange faces Tim Lester (WMU head coach) and Tim Daoust (WMU defensive coordinator), two important members of Scott Shafer’s Syracuse staff. We all know what happened the last time this sort of thing happened.
Anyways, we’re not here to talk about the Broncos. Willie Taggart has taken over the reigns at Florida State, the team he grew up rooting for. Last year, the Seminoles season ended right when it started. Deondre Francois went down in the opener against Alabama and the national title hopefuls became anything but. This year, Francois, one of the most gifted quarterbacks in the league, is back. On top of that, the ‘Noles return Cam Akers, a former five-star recruit that broke FSU’s freshman rushing record last season.
While Florida State is talented, they are also just as vulnerable with a new coach. This will be the Seminoles first game away from Doak Campbell Stadium in the Taggart era. No matter how you look at it, this game will be a challenge for the Orange. We’ll find out in September if Syracuse is up for the task.
